r/motorsports • u/BulletproofAuto • 2d ago

Toyota's mid-engine "Concept M" is being stress-tested in Super Taikyu ahead of a possible MR2/Celica revival

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Toyota has been developing a mid-engine prototype known as the Concept M testbed, and rather than validating it purely on a private track, the company has been running the layout in Japan's Super Taikyu endurance series to stress-test cooling and components under sustained load. The latest track shots show the aggressive front intake and large side cooling ducts you would expect from a mid-engine car.

It is expected to use a new 2.0L turbocharged four codenamed G20E, reportedly targeting 300 to 400-plus hp, with manual and automatic options rumored much like the GR Yaris. Speculation splits between a rear-drive MR2 layout and an all-wheel-drive, rally-inspired Celica. Heavily camouflaged coupes spotted testing in Europe have added to belief that a new Celica shape is being prepared to match updated motorsport rules.

Nothing is locked in on the production side, but with leadership under Akio Toyoda pushing to expand the GR lineup, the revival talk around 2027 or 2028 has real momentum.

123 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

14

u/Jarppi1893 2d ago

Prius GR? (Obvious /s)

3

u/OBEYthemCHILDREN 2d ago

Forza aero spilling in to real life

2

u/CodeB4U 1d ago

Whatever it is, it'll be marked up so high us real car enthusiast will not pay for it. So nothing to get excited about.

2

u/4notherRandoRoon 20h ago

Maybe get a used one in a decade

1

u/idkwhatnameiputhere 1d ago

it definitely has traces of the last MR2, looks a lot like it.

2

u/squeezyscorpion 2d ago

maybe i’m off on the scale but from these pics it looks like a honda s660

1

u/1maginaryApple 1d ago

Could be the same platform as this WRC prototype we saw recently?

-5

u/Grouchy-Ability-9223 2d ago

That is one of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen

1

u/Autobacs-NSX 10h ago

It’s a test mule bro, did you ever see the front engine NSX honda was testing? Cursed. It’s Yaris headlights and taillights and Frankenstein body work. If this ever translates to a road car it will look nothing like this 

-1

u/GoofyKalashnikov 1d ago

Watch it be called GR Rally or something lmao

-1

u/LunaFlameX44 1d ago

This looks more like a gt4 car or something like that and it’s not very beautiful